Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich (Agg 0-7): Rampant Germans complete humiliation

Bayern Munich ensured
it will be an all-German
Champions League final
after they defeated
Barcelona 3-0 and
completed a 7-0
aggregate victory on
Wednesday night.
Arjen Robben fired a perfect left-footed
effort past Victor Valdes to make it 1-0,
before an own goal from Gerard Pique and
Thomas Muller's strike added insult to
injury for the hosts.
Lionel Messi was named on the bench prior
to kick-off, but despite that blow Barcelona
began on the front foot and enjoyed a
positive opening 20 minutes, even if it was
bereft of the clear opportunities their early
endeavours perhaps deserved.
The Catalans began to suffer against a
Bayern defence that was organised and
committed around the box, and were
forced to try their luck from deep. This
almost paid off midway through the first
half; Pedro let loose with a fierce effort 35
metres out, but Manuel Neuer was equal
to it, in what was the best opening of the
first 45 minutes.
Dani Alves then whipped a cross into the
box that found Cesc Fabregas. The ex-
Arsenal man did well to chest down to Xavi,
who found himself free, but the midfielder
uncharacteristically lost his cool and fired
his volley well over the crossbar.
Despite these moments of pressure, die
Roten coped well with the hosts' advances
and always looked dangerous breaking from
their own half. Robben and Franck Ribery in
particular stood out with all-action
performances, stretching the Barca
backline, albeit without creating too many
clear openings before heading in for the
interval.
Just three minutes after half-time, the
game was over as a contest. David Alaba
showed terrific vision deep on the left flank
to find Robben on the opposite side of the
pitch and though he still had work to do,
the Dutchman cut inside of Adriano and
fired left-footed past Victor Valdes.
The Blaugrana did not give up after that
fatal blow and kept forwards, but there was
no joy for the likes of David Villa as they
were suffocated in the final third. Indeed,
Bayern were the team that continued to
enjoy the best opportunities; Robben side
footed wide of the post with the goal in full
view, after a storming run down the left
from Ribery had spilt open the Liga
leaders.
Messi remained on the sidelines
throughout the 90 minutes, unused as Tito
Vilanova recognised that the game was
beyond the reach of his charges. Further
confirmation was provided by the
hapless Gerard Pique, who sliced a cross
into his own net with 18 minutes to go. A
convincing defeat soon turned into a
humiliation when Thomas Muller rose to
head in the third, as Bayern marched into
their third Champions League final in four
years.
The Bavarians' victory tees up a first-ever
all-German final in Europe's premier club
competition, as they prepare to face
Borussia Dortmund in the showpiece at
Wembley on May 25.